New online maps published today by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency, in close cooperation with the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) of the Joint Research Centre, allow citizens to pinpoint the main diffuse sources of air pollution, such as transport and aviation. The new set of 32 maps shows where certain pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter are released. It complements existing data on emissions from individual industrial plants from the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR). The Europe-wide register aims to help Europeans actively engage in decisions affecting the environment.

The graph includes the combined emissions of primary PM10 particles (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less, emitted directly into the atmosphere) and secondary particulate-forming pollutants (the fraction of sulphur dioxide, SO2, nitrogen oxides NOx and ammonia NH3 which, as a result of photo-chemical reactions in the atmosphere, transform into particulate matter with a diameter of 10μm or less). Emissions of the secondary particulate precursor species are weighted by a particle formation factor prior to aggregation: primary PM10 = 1, SO2 = 0.54, NOx = 0.88, and (NH3) = 0.64.

Urban air quality is of major concern. The high density of population and of economic activities in urban areas results in increased emissions, ambient concentrations and exposure. The Structural Indicator for urban air quality is presented which comprises two sub-elements describing the annual variations in population weighted health-relevant concentrations of (1) ozone and (2) particulate matter (PM10) in ambient air in urban areas.

The main objective of the present study is to analyse
and quantify the effects that certain past policy
measures in the road transport and industrial
combustion facilities have had on the magnitude of
air pollutant emissions and subsequent air quality in
Europe. The policies selected are the Euro emission
standards for road vehicles and the EU directives on
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)
and large combustion plants (LCP).

Emissions of air pollutants derive from almost all economic and societal activities. They result
in clear risks to human health and ecosystems. In Europe, policies and actions at all levels have
greatly reduced anthropogenic emissions and exposure but some air pollutants still harm human
health. Similarly, as emissions of acidifying pollutants have reduced, the situation for Europe's rivers
and lakes has improved but atmospheric nitrogen oversupply still threatens biodiversity in sensitive
terrestrial and water ecosystems. The movement of atmospheric pollution between continents
attracts increasing political attention. Greater international cooperation, also focusing on links
between climate and air pollution policies, is required more than ever to address air pollution.

Despite substantial reductions in some urban air pollutants, data for the period 1997 to 2008 show that for any given year up to 40 to 60 % of urban citizens can be exposed to concentrations of either particulate matter or ozone above the EU limits. Environmental noise, mainly from transport, continues to affect large numbers of people. Urban wastewater collection and treatment improved markedly, but discharges of some harmful chemicals remain a concern.